Orlando City SC is set to announce that they have sold out their entire 18,000 season-ticket inventory for '16, just 18 days since putting it on sale. That number of season-ticket holders will rank the club in the top three across MLS. Orlando City currently is just the fourth team to have a wait list. Over the club's first 13 home matches, it has averaged 32,973 fans, an MLS record for an expansion team. The franchise currently plays in the Citrus Bowl, with its new 25,500-seat stadium in downtown Orlando scheduled to open by September '16.

The Missouri Development Finance Board today approved $50M in state tax credits to help build a $998M stadium for the Rams in St. Louis. The board will provide the stadium effort with $15M in "state tax credits for the project this year," plus $17.5M in '16 and $17.5M in '17. The credits, "similar to the stadium itself, are dependent on the NFL and an NFL owner committing" about $450M to help build the venue (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/18).

Spectra Ticketing & Fan Engagement has entered a multiyear partnership with ReplyBuy in which clients have the ability to sell tickets and merchandise via text-to-buy technology. Through the integration, mobile 2D barcode tickets will be delivered to a registered buyer’s phone instantly upon replying to the text and can be scanned at the event. “ReplyBuy has great technology and has been getting some traction in the sports and athletics market,” said Spectra VP/Marketing Craig Ricks. “They have an easy-to-use technology that will resonate really well with fans, especially the millennial generation.”

In conjunction with the deal, Ricks said that Auburn tomorrow will announce a partnership with Spectra that coincides with the start of college football. He added that Auburn is looking to leverage the partnership “as an opportunity for exclusive offers.” Ricks: “Building out a text database is very similar to building out an e-mail database in that you can offer a coveted opportunity to a member simply on their phone. It really is frictionless. There is no need to even log in.” He added that the company is in the process of finalizing deals to “roll out with a few other clients in the short term” ahead of the college football season.

The now-defunct Boston 2024 Olympic bid committee low-balled cost projections compared to prior Summer Games and understated the risks associated with using private developers to build two major venues, an independent report commissioned by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker found today. The report from Brattle Group calculated Boston 2024’s proposed $210M surplus on a $4.6B operating budget depended on a belief the Games would cost 25% less than what the London '12 committee spent, or $750M.

Operational risks paled compared to the challenges associated with building the Olympic Stadium and the Athlete’s Village, which were each centerpieces of major redevelopment projects proposed in Boston. Contingencies set aside for those projects were unusually low, and the profit incentive for private developers may have been insufficient to even attract bidders, the report found. In all, Brattle accused Boston 2024 of underestimating infrastructure costs such as public transit and road improvements by as much as $1.5B.

Baker and other state leaders first commissioned the Brattle report before July 27, when the Boston bid was abandoned.

Collegiate Licensing Co. today announced a five-year extension with the Big 12 to continue serving as the conference's trademark licensing representative. CLC began working with the Big 12 in '96. CLC manages the licensed merchandise programs for the conference's full lineup of sports and works with member institutions on co-branded products that use Big 12 marks (CLC).

Mondelez today announced a deal to sponsor the U.S. Open at the tennis tournament's Official Promotional Partner level. The deal grants promotional rights for in-store, stadium and in digital media and advertising. The snack company will leverage the deal to create experiences at the event, as well as produce content during matches with a focus on digital and social media. Mondelez will promote its Oreo Thins brand (Mondelez).

The Univ. of Akron today announced that former Marquette AD Larry Williams “will take over the athletic department” on Sept. 1, replacing Tom Wistrcill, who left to join Learfield Sports. Williams, who signed a five-year contract worth $285,000 annually, “arrives at a school that recently eliminated its baseball program as a cost-cutting move.” One of his top priorities will be “boosting community interest in the football program” (OHIO.com, 8/18).

Pain relief products maker Blue-Emu will be the primary sponsor of Richard Petty Motorsports' NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 9 Ford during Saturday's Irwin Tools Night Race. Blue-Emu is based in Bristol (RPM).

A source said that FIFA on Thursday in Zurich "will meet some of its leading commercial partners" to "discuss reforms" (REUTERS, 8/18).

LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan has approved Brooke Henderson's "petition filed Monday for an age-18 waiver" to join the tour (TWITTER.com, 8/18).

“His brand is an important part of his future, and he does it very wisely. And he does connect with people from various cultures. I think that’s important because this is such a multicultural game” – Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, on the bilingual SS Carlos Correa possibly becoming the next face of baseball (USATODAY.com, 8/18).

“I am looking forward to moving back to Montreal on a permanent basis when we get a team back. And I look forward to throwing out the first pitch” – Former MLBer Warren Cromartie, who is leading an effort for Montreal to land an MLB team (NYTIMES.com, 8/18).

In the 30 days prior to this morning’s sponsorship announcement, Nature’s Bakery was referenced just 29 times by the news media #NASCAR

— Joyce Julius & Assoc (@Joyce_Julius) August 18, 2015

In 4 games this week, replay reviews will be done via Microsoft tablet taken to referee on field. Can we streamline the process?

— Greg Aiello (@gregaiello) August 18, 2015

Speaking of Microsoft, interesting that the NFL has a $400M deal with a company one of its owners co-founded and still has 100M shares in.

— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) August 18, 2015

#FlaPanthers continue search for new radio voice. A strong candidate should be former #Caps radio man Steve Kolbe.

— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) August 18, 2015

Pressman says in most cases, police lay charge, then process forensics. Kane being treated "differently b/c he's high profile celeb."

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) August 18, 2015

This giant Madison Bumgarner bobblehead is the stuff nightmares are made of: http://t.co/jOFgVhnRDe pic.twitter.com/c33Itga34p

— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 18, 2015

Golfer Jordan Spieth will throw out the first pitch at the Rangers' home game against the Mariners.

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes a guest appearance in this video from YouTubers Dude Perfect that explores a few categories of stereotypical drivers. It includes a plug for the Dale Jr. Foundation.

Warriors G Stephen Curry will appear on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" at 11:30pm ET.

Pelicans C Anthony Davis will appear on CBS' "The Late Late Show with James Corden" at 12:35am ET.

19 minutes – Time it took Old Dominion Univ. yesterday to sell out of tickets for its Sept. 19 home football game against N.C. State at 20,118-seat Foreman Field (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 8/18).